Horse Racing Lock Bets

National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his daily column. He will feature at least one Pick 3 or Pick 4 play from a major track along with coverage of major stakes races, longshots, and he will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers.

It is Stakes Saturday and we have a new track in the mix today.

Gulfstream Park opens today and will run five days a week until April 23. The Hallandale, Fl. track will attract some of the top trainers in the country including hall of famers Bobby Frankel, Allen Jerkens, Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Carl Nafzger and Nick Zito.

Jockeys Alan Garcia and Julien Leparoux will be making their first assault on Gulfstream Park, strengthening an already deep colony, which will include Edgar Prado, John Velazquez, and Kent Desormeaux.

There are two stakes on Saturday’s opening day ten race card, and both are excellent betting races, giving us a pair of good opportunities to pad our bankroll.

Gulfstream Park Race 4 Spectacular Bid Stakes (Post time 2:42 ET)

#1 Notonthesamepage   5/1

#2 You Luckie Mann   8/5

#7 Silent Valor   2/1

#3 Jazzandthemagician   6/1

#1 Notonthesamepage is making his first start since October where the colt set the early fractions and faded badly to finish eleventh in the G1 Breeders Futurity going two turns over the polytrack surface. The colt popped a 104 Beyer in his maiden score in his second career start at Churchill Downs. HE was a good second in the Tyro Stakes off a three month break but failed to fire in his following start where he was fifth behind winner Vineyard Haven, who went on to win G1 Champagne in his next start. The colt has been working quickly in the mornings for the Ward barn that is 18% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day break.

#2 You Luckie Mann ran huge when last seen at Calder, winning the Birdonawire Stakes with the top last out speed fig (107 Beyer), a he increase over his first three career starts. The colt set the early fractions and drew away to win by eleven lengths. I’m not sure he really beat much in that race. The best effort from the runners he beat next out was by the seventh place finisher Sir Edgar, who earned a 94 Beyer winning a Alw-1 optional claimer in his next outing on 12/13 at Calder. The colt has worked steadily at Calder for the Wolfson barn that is 30% winners with horses returning off a 61-180 day layoff.

Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,7

TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,7 / 1,2,3,7,8

Gulfstream Park Race 8 Hals Hope Handicap G3 (Post time 4:43 ET)

#12 Bribon   5/1

#8 Now a Victor   6/1

#3 Fearless Vision   12/1

#4 Delightful Kiss   7/2

#12 Bribon invades from New York for the Ribaudo barn and is coming off a game effort in the G1 Cigar Mile where the gelding checked in third, beaten just ¾ of a length for the top spot. The gelding was outrun early and mounted a good rally but had to check hard near the quarter pole and finished well when clear. He caught a racing surface that was favoring inside speed that day. This guy earned a 118 Beyer four back beating Alw-3 optional claimers and while that figure looks fluky after he bounced in his following start his last two figs are solid. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and won’t be as far back in this spot.

#8 Now a Victor came back off a year layoff with a sharp effort, going gate to wire to beat Alw-3 optional claimers and earning a career top in the win. The third place finisher in the race was Mr. Madison, who came back to beat Alw-3 optional claimers on 12/31 at the Big A. The lightly raced five year old is a neck away from being undefeated in five career starts. He has been prepping at Pal Meadows for a sharp outfit and this should be flying early. If he shakes loose, he will be tough to run down.

Wagering

WIN: #12 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 8,12 / 3,4,8,12

TRI: 8,12 / 3,4,8,12 / 3,4,6,8,9,12

Good luck padding your bankroll today!